KUALA LUMPUR -- The focus of attention surrounding a controversial Malaysian security law has shifted to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi after the country's highest court allowed an appeal of five opposition detainees in a dramatic decision last Friday. The legislation allows detention of suspects, without trial, for long periods.
It is now up to Abdullah in his concurrent capacity as home affairs minister to take the next step after the panel of four judges in the Federal Court unanimously decided that the five National Justice Party (Keadilan) leaders had been unlawfully detained for the past 17 months.
He can either release them or let their detention continue until the expiry of their two-year detention order, which he had earlier authorized under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
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